Correlates of Family Competence in Families with Paternal Alcohol Abuse

The present study explored factors correlated with family competence in families with paternal alcohol abuse (N = 20). Family competence is measured by the Family Competence Scale in the Beavers Systems Model of Family Functioning. Based on a review of the literature, socioeconomic status, parents' psychological symptoms, and drinking behaviour were selected as possible correlates of family competence. The findings indicated that family competence was correlated with both parents' reports of psychological symptoms as measured by SCL–90. The strongest correlate of family competence was, however, the socioeconomic status of the family. The only aspect of drinking behaviour significantly correlated with family competence was severity of the fathers' alcohol abuse. These results indicate the importance of including individual factors, family factors, and socioeconomic measures in the assessment of families with paternal alcohol abuse.